Busan, December 21st
Asia trip 2018-2019

This is the last city I will visit in Korea. I have traveled from Seoul to Busan, passing by Daejeon, Buyeo and Gyeongju.

My hotel is close to Sasang Station (사상역). This is convenient to get to the airport from the hotel. Sasang Station is a stop for Line 2 and for Busan–Gimhae Light Rail train that stops at Gimhae Airport (PUS). The airport code is PUS as the code still retains the old naming of the city.

"In the year 2000, Korea changed Pusan to Busan (부산) because Pusan (푸산) sounds awful to Korean ears. Also, Inchon (인촌) became Incheon (인천). […] These changes occurred because the Korean government changed the rules regarding the writing Korean words using the English alphabet, called Romanization.  These changes pretty much sum up the differences between the two main Korean Romanization systems: MR (McCune-Reischauer) in 1939 and RR (Revised Romanization) in 2000."

Yun Chung. Pusan vs Busan, Sogang vs Seogang, and Peking vs Beijing. The Korea Times.

I take the Metro at Sasang Station and stop at Seomyeon. I walk down the main street until I reach the 40-steps stair. This stair and the area where is located recalls the history of refugees during the Korean war and their effort to reunify with family and friends.

As I continue walking south, the Busan Tower can be seen from afar. The tower is located at the Yongdusan Park. At the top of the tower, there is a panoramic view deck. From there, I can see all Busan. I like the perspective that you get from such altitude. I can see the streets I have already visited and the ones I will go next.

Taking the escalator down from Yongdusan Park, I get to Gukje Market (남포동 국제시장). At the market, I buy some souvenirs. There is a lot to choose from. There are modern shops with the latest fashion, tourist shops with all kind of cheap souvenirs, street food stands, and much more. I try Eomuk Tang at one of the stands. Another customer helps me to pour some of the soup into a paper cup. I am always grateful for all the help that people gives to tourists. After I am finished, she asks me what I think about it. The food is delicious and is welcome on a cold day.

As it is close by, I go to Jagalchi Market. It is a fish market. All shops are thematically organised. In one sector, there are shops where people go to buy fish. In another, there are restaurants, dried fish or fishing gear. At several restaurants, the customers can choose directly the live fish from a tank.